Type-writing machine.



No. 638,027. Patented Nov. 28, I899.

' H. McDOUGALL.

TYPE'WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 5, 1898.)

2 Sheets$heet I.

(No Model.)

INVEN'TDI? 3 WITNESSES I 4 TTOHNEVS m: nonms mans co mofou'mm WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 638,027. Patented Nov. 28, I899.

' H. MGDOUGALL.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 5, 189B.)

(No Model.)-

PATENT Y FFICE.

HUGH MCDOUGALL, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,027, dated November 28, 1899.

Application filed July 5. 1898. Serial No. 685,147. (No model.)

To a. whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH MODOUGALL, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type'Writing Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of typewriting machines known as type-ba1"rnachines, in which the types, either singly or in groups of two, three, or more, are carried by a series of bars each having its independent key in the keyboard.

'The object of my invention is to produce a type-bar action more direct and simple and having a more uniform touch than present machines.

In my invention the type-bar may be clescribed as a floating bar, being mounted or fulcrumed on two moving members, so as to travel bodily to and from the point of impression and in such manner as to strike its blow endwise on the paper or impressionpoint. The heel of the type-bar or portion most remote from the types is confined to a substantially rectilinear path, preferably by being pivoted upon an axially-moving rod as, for example, upon the key-rod. At a point intermediate of the heel and the types the type-bar is pivoted to a link or bar extending substantially at right angles to the typebar and so pivoted to a fixed point upon the typewriter-machine frame that whenendwise thrust is applied to the type-bar the type end of the type-bar will be carried from its normal position to theimpression-point, mov in g first in a direction substantially lateral to the type-bar, (or'parallelto the impressionsurface,) and then just before striking in a direction substantially longitudinal of said type-bar and vertical to the impression-surface. To lessen the necessity for accurate construction and fitting of the pivotal members, it is preferred to employ a plate having a guide-aperture in line with the impressionpoint for accurately aliniug the type at the moment of impression, and the type end of the type-bar is pivoted to the bar with limited angular play to permit the type to adapt itself to the printing-surface.

In the accompanying drawings I have illuspaper-holder.

trated the invent-ion by showing it embodied by a single type-bar movement, the multiplying of such movements to provide a complete set of type-bars and the adding thereto of the other necessary elements of type-writing machines being at this time matters within the scope of the ordinary person versed in the art.

In said drawings, Figure 1 illustratesin elevation a single type-bar movement embodyin g one form of my invention, the t ype-bar being arranged to strike downwardly on the upper surface of a platen or paper-h older. Fig.

' 2 is a si milarview illustrating another form, in

which the type-bar is arranged to strike upwardly on the under side of such a platen or Fig. 3 is an elevation showing my invention embodied in a mechanism in which the heels of the type-bars are guided in a straight line and also illnstratinga type-bar carrying three characters and operating in combination with a shifting platen.

It is to be understood that myinvention is not limited in its application to a type-bar which moves substantially in a vertical path, for the movement is capable of being arranged in various ways horizontally or otherwise, and I have illustrated but two typical arrangements.

1 is a floating type-bar having, as shown at Fig. 1, at its lower end, or, as shown at Fig. 2, at its upper end, a block 2, bearing one, two, or other number of types, which is preferably pivoted to the bar, as shown, so as to afford slight and limited angular movement to the type relatively to the bar, and thus enable it to adapt itself automatically to the printingsurface. V

In Fig. 3 I have shown a type-bar carrying three characters and adapted to operate in combination with a cylindrical platen having a three-place shift. Suitable mechanism for shifting the platen relatively to the type-bars or the type-bar systems relatively to the platen are so well known that specific description of such mechanism is unnecessary. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the heel 3 of the type-bar is pivoted at 4 directly to the lower end of a key-rod 5, which hasthe finger-key 6 and which is held normally in raised position by spring '7.

8 8 represent two horizontal bars of the typewriting-machine frame having guide-apertures for the key-rod 5. The key-rode may, however, be guided in any preferred manner. 9 is a link pivoted at 10 to the type-bar, near its heel, and at 11 to a fixed part 12 of the type-writing-machine frame. The typebar is arranged so that in its normal position it rests at a slight angle to the vertical, and the link 9 is arranged substantially at right angles to the type-bar. Thus when the finger-key 6 is depressed and the heel of the type-bar is carried downward rectilinearly the outer end of the link 9 will force outward the lower end of the type-bar 1 until it is in a position directly over a guide-aperture 13 in a guide-block 14:. At this point the link 9 is substantially horizontal, and further depression of the finger-key will carry the type downward in a substantially vertical path into contact with the paper on a platen or papercarrier 15. The return action of the spring 7 restores the type-bar to a position forward or rearward of the platen, thus leaving the upper surface thereof exposed to view. The construction and operation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 is substantially identical with the form shown in Fig. 1, there being interposed, however, between the key-rod 5 and the type-bar a transmittinglever 16, with the result that the downward motion of the finger-key imparts upward motion to the type bar, bringing the type against the under side of the platen or paper-carrier.

' Owing to the length of lever 16 the motion of its inner end will be nearly in astraight line;

but, if preferred, the heel of the type-bar may be guided positively in a right line, the lever 16 being in that case loosely connected to it, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen or paper-carrier, a series of floatin g type-bars, arranged to strike endwise thereon, fulcrum-links and finger-keys having separate direct pivotal connection with said type-bars, the pivotal connection of one of said members having means for guiding it in a line substantially parallel with the line of impact on the impressionsurface, substantially as set forth.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination. of a platen or paper-carrier, a series of type-bars arranged approximately vertical to the impression-surface, a series of fulcrumlinks pivoted approximately at right angles to said type-bars, and a series of key bars or levers having direct pivotal connection to said type-bars and arranged to impart substantially rectilinear end thrust thereto, substantially as set forth.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen or paper-carrier, a guide block or member having a guide-aperture, a series of approximately vertical type-bars, a series of approximately horizontal fulcrumlinks therefor and a series of finger-keys having direct pivotal connection with said typebars, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a type-writing machine the combination of a platen or paper-carrier, a series of type-bars arranged to strike approximately endwise thereon and a series of key-bars attached directly to the type-bars by pivot connections guided in a path approximately parallel with the line of impact of the type-bars, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a type-writin g machine the combination of a platen or paper-carrier, a series of type-bars arranged approximately vertical to the impression-surface, type-heads pivoted to said type-bars so as to permit limited angular motion and key-bars pivoted directly to said type-bars for operating them, substantially as shown and described.

HUGH MGDOUGALL.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, M. V. BIDGOOD. 

